Proposal for a Decision Amending Decision No 445/2014/EU establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 18 August 2020, introducing a number of amendments to Decision No 445/2014/EU concerning the European Capitals of Culture for the period 2020-2033.

Further information:

Decision 445/2014/EU renews and updates the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) scheme for the period between 2020 and 2033. It sets out rules, procedures and the calendar for the designation of European Capitals of Culture during this period.

The proposed amendments address the effects of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic by giving the 2020 European Capitals of Culture - Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland) the possibility to extend their status until 30 April 2021. The Commission also proposed to postpone the year in which Novi Sad (Serbia) was due to host a ECoC and the year in which Timisoara (Romania) and Elefsina (Greece) would hold the title from 2021 to 2023.

The Council of the European Union adopted the proposal on 7 October 2020.

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 18/08/2020: Coronavirus: Commission proposes to extend 2020 European Capitals of Culture into 2021 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1474

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07/10/2020: European Capitals of Culture: Council proposes to extend Galway and Rijeka beyond 2020 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/10/07/european-capitals-of-culture-council-proposes-to-extend-galway-and-rijeka-beyond-2020/

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